NUR 113: DISASTER NURSING

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET BS NURSING / FOURTH YEAR

Session # 12

LESSON TITLE: Natural Disasters: Tsunami, Winter Materials:

storm, Wildfire
Environmental Disasters and Emergencies Book, pen and notebook
LEARNING OUTCOMES: References:
Upon completion of this lesson, the nursing student can:
Veenema, T.G. (2019) Disaster Nursing and
1. Identify other major types of natural/environmental Emergency Preparedness for Chemical,
disasters and their physical, social and economic Biological, and Radiological Terrorism and other
impact. Hazards 4th Edition
2. Understand the implications of advanced warning
signs. https://www.official.gazette.gov.ph
3. Discuss examples of environmental hazards and their
impact on communities. https:// www.epa.gov > about-us> EPA
4. Define Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
DENR.

LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW (5 minutes)

Instruction: Differentiate each of the four Philippine Storm Warning Signals by PAGASA:

MAIN LESSON (40 minutes)

TSUNAMIS
• Form as a result of earthquakes, volcanoes, or landsides under the ocean
• Waves grow taller as they reach the coast
• Four out of Five occur in the Ring of Fire
• Over 200,000 people killed in the 12/26/05 Indian Ocean tsunami

Tsunami: Signals
• A recent submarine earthquake
• Sea appears to be boiling
• The water is hot, smells of rotten egg and stings the skin
• Audible thunder or booming sound followed by a roaring or whistling sound
• Water may recede a great distance from the coast
• Animals that run to the higher ground before the water arrives

Tsunami Preparedness
PLAN FOR A TSUNAMI:
• Have a disaster plan.
• Know whether you’re at risk for danger.
• Plan an evacuation route.

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 • Prepare a disaster supplies kit for your home and car. Include a first aid kit, canned food and a can opener,
bottled water, battery-operated radio, flashlight, protective clothing and written instructions on how to turn off
electricity, gas, and water.

DURING A TSUNAMI:
• Follow the instructions issued by local authorities.
• You will probably want to evacuate immediately.
• Get to higher ground and as far inland as you can.

AFTER A TSUNAMI:
• Help injured or trapped people.
• Stay out of a building if water remains around it. Tsunami waters can cause buildings to sink, floors to crack, or
walls to collapse.
• When re-entering homes, use extreme caution.
• Check for gas leaks.
• Open windows and doors to help dry things out.
• Look for fire hazards.

Risk of Morbidity and Mortality

• Immediate intervention: rescue survivors and provide medical care
• Drowning
• Broken limbs and head injuries
• GI diseases (from contaminated water and food supplies after the floods)
• Water-borne diseases: cholera, hepatitis A, leptospirosis, typhoid fever

WINTER STORMS
• May include snow, ice storms, sleet, freezing rain, and extremely cold temperatures
• Most deaths occur in automobiles
• Storms may cause widespread power outages

Winter Storm Preparations

• Learn about your area's winter storm risk. Contact your local Red Cross chapter or emergency management
office for your area's winter storm risk and storm history.
• Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperatures on
exposed skin.
• Service vehicles and snow removal equipment before winter storm season.
• Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.

What to do during a winter storm watch?

• Listen to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, a portable battery-powered
radio (or television), or a smart phone for updated emergency information of watches issued in your area.
• Be aware of changing weather conditions.
• Make sure pets and animals are safe.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.

What to do during a winter storm?

• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio, a portable battery-powered radio (or television), or a smart phone for updated
emergency information.
• Stay indoors and dress warmly during the storm.
• Wearing layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing will keep you warmer than one bulky sweater.
• Listen to a battery powered radio or television for updated emergency information.
• Eat regularly. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.
• Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
• If you lose electricity, do not use a generator indoors or in an enclosed space.
• Conserve fuel.

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 What to do after a winter storm?
• Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and
instructions.
• Help neighbors who may require special assistance.
• Avoid driving and other travel until conditions have improved.
• Avoid overexertion.
• Follow forecasts and be prepared when venturing outside.

WILDFIRES
• Occur in forests, grasslands, and wooded areas
• Most common causes: lightning and human accidents
• A wildfire also known as a wildland fire, forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, peat fire, bushfire (in Australia), or
hill fire is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in wildland areas, but which can also consume houses or agricultural
resources. Wildfires often begin unnoticed, but they spread quickly igniting brush, trees and homes.

Preparing for Wildfires

BEFORE A WILDFIRE:
• Have a disaster plan. Know whether you’re in a wildfire prone area. Plant fire resistant shrubs and trees around
your home.
• Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach around your home. Prepare a disaster supplies kit for your
home and car. Include a first aid kit, canned food and a can opener, bottled water, battery-operated radio,
flashlight, protective clothing and written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water. Always listen to
the radio and television for the latest information and instructions for your area.
• Include a first aid kit, canned food and a can opener, bottled water, battery-operated radio, flashlight, protective
clothing and written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water. Always listen to the radio and
television for the latest information and instructions for your area.

DURING A WILDFIRE:
• If you’re advised to evacuate then do so immediately. Wear protective clothing and lock your home. Tell someone
you left and where you are going. Choose a safe route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed
and direction of fire and smoke.

AFTER A WILDFIRE:
• Stay away from wildfire areas until it is safe.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER
- An environmental emergency or ecologic disruption of a severity and magnitude resulting in deaths, injuries, illness,
and/or property damage that cannot be effectively managed by the application of routine procedures or resources and
results in a need for additional assistance.

Activities must focus on the following:

1. The immediate removal of the hazard from the environment (or if this is not possible, the movement of the
population away from the hazard)
2. Decontamination of exposed individuals
3. The restoration of services to meet the immediate physiological needs of the affected people
4. The prevention of further illness or injury as a result of exposure to the hazard

Factors needed for environmental public health tracking:

• Environmental hazards
• Exposure to environmental hazards
• Health effects potentially related to exposure to environmental hazards

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND THEIR IMPACT

1. Air Pollutants: Toxic air pollutants (also known as hazardous air pollutants) are those pollutants that cause
or may cause serious health effects, such as cancer, severe respiratory disease, reproductive effects or birth
defects, or adverse environmental and ecological effects.

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 2. Chemical Spills: The intentional release or accidental leakage or spill of certain chemical substances into the
environment can have devastating consequences on human health. Nurses need to be aware of the
environmental and safety hazards that exist in or near the communities in which they live and work.
3. Mold: are a type of fungal growth that can be found in both indoor and outdoor environments. Molds are
notoriously hardy organisms and can grow in nearly any environment including those that are harsh and do
not typically support life. Molds thrive in warm, damp, and humid conditions and continuously reproduce
through the production of spores. Natural disasters (especially those involving water and/or heat) often
increase mold growth by altering the state of the natural environment.
4. Oil Spills: An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the
marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.
5. Pesticides: Pesticides are frequently used to control insects, rodents, weeds, microbes, or fungi. Pesticides
pose significant risks to human health and the environment, when people do not follow directions on product
labels or use products irresponsibly. For example, people might use pesticides when they are not really
needed, apply too much, or apply or dispose of them in a manner that could contaminate water or harm
wildlife.
6. Radiation Release and Contamination: Radiological materials and unstable nuclear isotopes are present
and nearly unavoidable in daily life. Background radiation, naturally occurring radiation from the environment,
exists as unstable isotopes suspended in air, radon emitted from the earth’s crust, cosmic radiation from outer
space, isotopes within the human body (potassium and carbon), and infrequent radioactive elements from
nature. This background radiation produces negligible low-level exposure of radiation to humans.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

❖ It is a lead governmental agency responsible for the protection of human and the environmental health.
Provides technical assistance to support recovery planning of public health infrastructure such as waste water
and treatment works, to ensure that the environment have clean air, land and water.

How EPA protects the environment and Health?

• Superfund Cleanup- the EPA oversees the cleanup of toxic superfund sites and holds polluters financially
responsible.
• Oil spill cleanup – conducts and supervises cleanup efforts (on land and in non -coast guard control waters) for
oil or hazardous chemical oils. Ex. Exxon Valdez, Kalamazoo and Floreffe spills
• Energy efficiency – maintains the ENERGY STAR program, which helps consumers identify the most energy
efficient appliances and equipment that can save money and energy.
• Clean water/ safe drinking water – sets health-based standards, limiting contaminants in drinking water.
It provides the community to deliver safe drinking water and improve water quality. After disasters, The EPA
provides resources to get drinking water and sewage treatments back online quickly.
State/Local Drinking water & Waste water Infrastructure- improve drinking water infrastructure and
upgrade sewage treatment and other municipal wastewater infrastructure.
Sewage rules: to prevent raw sewage from polluting drinking water sources.
Protecting fish and fishing jobs: sets surface water standards and related fishing jobs from toxic pollution.
Beachgoers Protection: protects beachgoers from pollution by establishing minimum national water quality
standards and guidelines for swimming.
• Clean Air and Climate Protection: sets limits on dangerous air pollutants from factories, refineries, power plants,
oil and gas extraction and vehicles. These limits protect public health, prevent asthma attacks, birth defects
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
• Chemical safety: reviews applications for new chemicals to ensure they are safe before they are allowed on the
market.
• Bug repellants: make sure that sprays, repellents, flea collars and other products kill bugs without poisoning
people.
• Pesticides: reviews safety of pesticides sprayed on food crops, golf courses or public rights-of-way.
• Oil and gas disposal: helps guide state in the handling and disposal of oil and gas waste, including toxic waste.
• Hazardous and solid waste regulations: administers safeguards for how hazardous and non-hazardous waste
is generated, transported, treated, stored and disposed.
• Radioactive Materials: prepares for and responds to emergencies involving radioactive materials, deploying
response team to work with agencies at all levels.
• Sustainable communities: supports efforts to revitalize local economies and make communities healthier and
more livable in collaboration with government agencies, NGOs and private sector.

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In the Philippines, EPA is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NEDA), is responsible for the
conservation, management and development of the country’s environment and natural resources. It shall ensure
the proper use of these resources and the protection of the environment within the framework of sustainable
development.

10 Priority Programs:
• Clean air
• Clean water
• Solid waste management
• Geohazard
• Ground water assessment and responsible mining
• National greening program
• Intensified forest protection and anti-illegal logging
• Enhanced biodiversity conservation
• scaling up of coastal and marine ecosystems
• improved land and administration and management

Current environmental problems:

• pollution
• global warming
• overpopulation
• waste disposal
• ocean acidification
• loss of biodiversity
• deforestation
• ozone layer depletion
• acid rain
• public health issues

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (10 minutes)

You will answer and rationalize this by yourself. This will be recorded as your quiz. One (1) point will be given to correct
answer and another one (1) point for the correct ratio. Superimpositions or erasures in you answer/ratio is not allowed.
You are given 10 minutes for this activity:

Multiple Choice
1. All are true about wildfires except:
a. It occurs in forests, grasslands, and wooded areas
b. Controlled fire often occurring wildland areas
c. Most common causes are lightning and human accidents
d. A wildfire also known as a wildland fire
ANSWER: ________
RATIONALE:_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. After tsunami, the nurse should:

a. Help injured or trapped people
b. Stay inside of a building if water remains around it.
c. When re-entering homes, caution is not needed.
d. Ignore gas leaks.
ANSWER: ________

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 RATIONALE:_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which of the following is an indicator of a tsunami?
a. thunderstorms
b. water receding from a great distance from the coast
c. excessive rain clouds
d. peaceful waves in the shore
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What should you do during a winter storm if you’re inside a vehicle?

a. Drive slowly
b. Find a warm shelter
c. Keep the headlights on
d. All of the above
ANSWER: ________
RATIONALE:_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Oil spill is a man-made disaster that may cause:

a. Nourishment for the earth
b. Destruction of marine ecosystem
c. Wildfire
d. Nourishment for fishes
ANSWER: ________
RATIONALE:_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY (THIS WILL BE DONE DURING THE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION)
The instructor will now rationalize the answers to the students. You can now ask questions and debate among yourselves.
Write the correct answer and correct/additional ratio in the space provided.
1. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:_______________________________________________________________________________________
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2. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:_______________________________________________________________________________________
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3. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:_______________________________________________________________________________________
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4. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:_______________________________________________________________________________________
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5. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:_______________________________________________________________________________________
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LESSON WRAP-UP (5 minutes)

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You will now mark (encircle) the session you have finished today in the tracker below. This is simply a visual to help you
track how much work you have accomplished and how much work there is left to do.

You are done with the session! Let’s track your progress.

AL Activity: Minute Paper

1) What was the most useful or the most meaningful thing you have learned this session?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) What question(s) do you have as we end this session?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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